Agricultural spray and process of making same.



UNITED stra- 'rns PATENToFFIcE.

CABLETON ELLIS, OF

MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB '10 ELLIS-FOSTER COM- PANY, ACQRPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. v

AGRICULTURAL SI BRAY AND PBOGESS OF MAKING SAME,

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied July 14, 1911. Serial No. 638,514.

Patented Nev. 7, 1911.

Toall whomz't may concern contain' certain arsemcal bodies; all as morey hereinafter described and as claimed.

The destructive attacks of the white fly nation of an arsenical or otherinsecticide (Aleroydes cz'tm') and similar pests in the citrus groves ofthe South have led to a number of recommendations respecting spraysintended for the extermination of this insect. To destroy the larvae orpupae in the earlier stages solutions of soap, especially rosin soaphave been used with some effect. Soa solutions probabl have norealinsecticidal action and inhibit the development of the larvae or pupaeby coating them in such a manner that-free access to the air isprevented.

The object of. the present invention is to provide a saponaceouscompound having, in addition to a sealing-in action, an actualinsecticidal value. This I secure by the-combiwith asoapand byincorporation in the manner to be hereinafter described the arsenical orother insecticide may be caused to exist in a form especially capable ofreadyand uniform distribution over infected foliage.

Arsenicalscontaining' arsenicin a soluble formare liable to burn foliageand the admixture of lead arsenate and an aqueous solution of resin soafor example, sometimes brin aboute formation of lead resinate anisoluble arsenic compounds. Ar-

senicals in this way are therefore not re rded as safe to use on tendergrowth:

the resentinvention arsenic in the form of c sulfid or thioarsenatepreferably is employed. Preferably also, the arsemcal compound in thisform, is combined with rosin or fatty acid in the' presence ofinsufficient alkali to satisfy both the soap stock and arsenicalcompound. For example, yellow or red sulfid of arsenic may be dissolved'in caustic potash and a quantity of rosin incorporated therewithsuflipotash thus precipitating the arsenic as the sulfid. In such acomposition the sulfid of arsenic exists, apparently, more or less in acolloidal condition; as, on dilution to a considerable degree with waterthe soap asses into solution and the sulfid of arsemc recient to take upall the alkali as resinate of mains suspendedfor along period forming 1an opalescent solution, which with yellow arsenic has a faint topronounced yellow color, depending on the degree of concentration. Forease of shipment a composition of this character maybe made in aconcentrated form and diluted with water at the time of application, asthe property of long continued suspension on dilution is not lost bykeeping the concentrated mixture in storage for an indefinite period.

When sulfid of arsenic is dissolved in caustic alkali and precipitatedbyrosin or a fatty acid a certain pro rtion of the arsenic remains in arat er soluble form. This 'may be overcome by the use of alkalithioarsenate, which on precipitation with the acid, yields the sulfid ofarsenic substantially free from soluble arsenic compounds. Besidecausticpotash, above mentioned as suitable in pre aring the present compositionother alka ies, such as the carbonate of i I soda, hydroxid of soda,ammonia and the like may be employed. As soda produces hard soaps whichare 'not easily diluted, soaps prepared from potash or ammoniaarepreferable. The latter bases also have util 1ty as fertilizin elements.-Ammonia/is in one ct pre erable to potash, in that being vo tile andeasily expelled from its combinations with. rosm and fatty acids 9. morelasting effect on foliage is secured with, forexample, ammoniumresina'te'than with the corresponding potash com ound. When ammoniumresinate,indi1ute so ution, is s rayed on foliage and-exposedto air andsun ight the ammonia evaporates leavi a coating of the resin. Thelatter,deprive of alkali, is insoluble and isnot washedofi the foliage by rainso that the efiect is very en-' during. In the case of potash resinatethe alkali remains with the resin and rain affects the coating moreeasily. Ammonium sulfid or ammonia may be used to bring ansenic sulfidintosolution to form an alkalid of arsenic and material. Ammoniumresinate is easily soluble in Water and concentrated solutions having asyrupy consistent: containing sulif desired: ammonium sulfid and freesulfur, can be prepared. As

ammonia is lost on exposure the composition keeps best in Well closedreceptacles. Goncentrated rosin soaps easily dissolve various oils,which are preci itated in. a finely divided condition on dilution. Theaddition of 10% or more of pine oil, Russian turpentine and the likeimparts a higher degree of fluidity to the soap compositions and isrecommended both for this reason and also because the oil has ascalecidal action which is often desired. Other oils may similarly beused, including cresylic acid, etroleum oils tar oils and the like The0' is best adde after the rosin soap and arsenical compound have beencombined, although in some in stances the oil may be mixed with therosin prior to saponification. Mixtures of potash and ammonia or potashand soda or ammonia and soda may be used to securespecial consistenciesand solubilities on exposure. I Obviously it is undesirable to seal upthe leaf pores for a long period of time and ammonia sometimes afiordstoo durable a coating, especially during the dry season. Mixtures, ofthe alkalisserve to provide a coating of predetermined or regulablesolubility.

This application contains matter divided from my prior application.Serial No. 624,355, filed May 1', I911, for agricultural spraycomposition.

In the following formulae rosin Will be specified although it should beunderstood that fatty acids may be used in place of rosin. 0f the fattyacids oleic acid is most satisfactory as the potash and ammonia soapsare fluent even in concentrated form. Stearic acidforms soaps which aretoo hard to be as useful as the rosin soaps. In calculating the alkalirequired to secure the proper precipitation of the arsenical compound,it should be borne in mind that rosin has a lower saponificationequivalent than the fatty acids and allowance made therefor.

An illustration of a rosin composition suitable for combining withpotassium polysulfid in order to secure the joint action of both sulfurand rosin, is as follows:l0

pounds of powdered rosin are saponified with two pounds of caustic.potash, using a suficient quantity of Water to make a syrupy mixture.Thisis combined With a solution of potassium polysulfid, containingthree pounds of the latter and one pound of yellow sulfid of arsenic. Inthis case it will be observed that although there is suflicientpotashpresent in the spray to maintain some of the arsenic in solution, and insolution to such extent, in fact, that in the absence of the resin itwould probably exert 7 accuses Another 'composition is made bydissolving 20 pounds of powdered resin colophony) in 25 pounds of Water,to Whic has been added'5 pounds. of concentrated ammonia and threepounds of ammonium thioarsenate. This gives a thick syrup which gains,slightly inconsistency on standing. It is best thinned to a. permanentsyrup by the addition of some pine oil,

Russian turpentine or petroleum, althoughcresylic acid also may be usedin the same way. When a mixture of this sort is introduced into hardwater the rosin lime soap which thus forms is softened and evendissolved by the oil, especially if the latter be pine oil or other goodsolvent for resinate of lime. There is thus less liability of forming acoagulum capable of clogging the sprayin nozzles.

Another formula illustrative of the present invention is prepared bydissolving 5 pounds of commercial sulfid of arsenic in a solution madeby dissolving 10 pounds of caustic potash in two gallons Water. This isdiluted with ten gallons or so of water and pounds of powdered rosin isgradually added, cooling the mixture, if necessary by surrounding thereceptacle with a water jacket through which cold Water is passed.

-Tf by the heat of reaction or from the use of initially-Warm solutionsthe temperature becomes too great the arsenical compound coagulates anddoes not suspend in Water properly when the composition is diluted foruse. Apparently overheating causes a loss of. colloidal form.

While the ordinary red or yellow sulfid of arsenic or other equivalentcompound 'maybe used hereiml prefer to employ the yellow sulfid asobtained in the commercial form.

To these COIIIPOSIlJIOIlS, various additions of other modifyingorinsecticidal bodies 'may be made as will now be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and I do not Wish to limit myself to the preciseformulae set forth but desire to embrace those. compositions containinga soap or leaf-glazing component and sulfid of arsenic in a veryfinelydivided and preferably in a colloidal form; such compositionsbeing preferably fluent and easily diluted with water.

What lclaim is 1. An agricultural spraying composition comprisingessentially a soap and colloidal sulfid of arsenic.

2. An agricultural spraying. composition comprising essentially a rosinsoap and colloidal sulfid of arsenic.

3, An agricnltural spraying composition comlprising esscntinlly s rssinsoap and fine -divieti suifid of arsenic,

4. An agricnltnral spraying'composition comprising essentially a potashrosin soap and finely-divided sulfid of arsenic.

5. An agricultural spraying composition comprising esssntinllunderneutralized ot- EWING.

7. An z gricultnrsi sprsying composition .tion of n-soap-formmg acid.

comprisin undernentrolized otash rosin soap, sul r, alkali polysulfidivlded sulficl of arsenic.

8. The process of makin an agricultural spraying composition whiccomprises dis- 2 solvingnrsenic suifid in an alkaline medium andoverneutralizing the alkali by, thcmdcliand finely- Si ned at Cheshain1n the county of Ches ire and State of New Hampshire this 25 8th day ofJuly A. D. 1911. i j

' CARLETON ELLIS.

Witnesses:

' Bmnnmn Mu Elms,

Gnsnnrs H. Pnssn.

